Meaty dilemma

July 20, 2016

I love meat + I love fast food = I extremely love fast food meat (naturally). Too bad it secretly hates us all and we’re in a delicious, toxic relationship.

Now that pregnant ladies are dominating my life, I feel worse for not mentioning this sooner. Have you heard of Proposition 65 in California? Just in case you haven’t…maybe take that burger out of your mouth for a sec.

I know, I hate it too when people ruin my meals with fear, guilt and shame. Just as you are about to take the most satisfying bite, a bite that could help you regain all happiness and purpose in your life, someone chimes in with a “do you know what’s in that”?

Truthfully, I don’t know what’s in that, but what I can’t tell you is the sign on the door said this:

Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects, or other reproductive harm may be present in foods or beverages sold or served here.

“Dafuq!? Michelle, why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

Well, when I first saw the Prop 65 warning signs in San Francisco (like, one year ago), Calgary didn’t have a Carl’s Junior yet. And, not every fast food joint had a warning sign so I thought, “Okay no biggie, they don’t have this where I’m from…won’t affect my homegirls”.

But, now, Calgary has everything and I’m reading about how more and more fast food franchises are under fire for Prop 65 infractions. Now, every time I see a pregnant lady, I feel the burden of truth. I don’t want to intrude and be that hypocrite that knocks burgers out of their hands (and then secretly eats them all under her bed).

The sign is haunting me! So, I’m spreading the burden on to you, haha. Did you already know about this? Why didn’t you tell me, then?

I know what you’re thinking. How worried should we all really be? Is everyone being overly cautious? Or, are we in denial? It literally took me a full 10 minutes after seeing the sign, walking in, thinking about all the tasty selections I could make, then, finally about my future unborn children, before walking out and eating some street tacos instead.

I don’t know how far to take this and how much to worry, but the least I could do was tell you about this, right!? Doesn’t Canada have stricter food regulations? Does this not apply to Canadian fast food? Don’t Canadian restaurants have to use Alberta beef or something sans hormones blabla? Is Prop 65 overly sensitive? Why doesn’t Canada have a similar “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act”? Didn’t the World Health Organization (WHO) declare all meat carcinogenic anyway?! I don’t know…I’m confused…I thought we were safe!

But, seriously, who does know? For real, though. Who is the person and what is their title that can give me a definitive answer on how many burgers I can eat before I mutate?

Is it the burnt bits that’s of most concern? BPA? Is it a specific chemical additive? I did some preliminary research, I’m just going to leave this here.

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and insight in the comments! I want to know, did you already know about Prop 65? How worried are you?